Artist description Louder Than Hell Take No Prisoners Balls Out Rock

Music Style Metal

Musical Influences Black Sabbath, Metallica, Kyuss, Black Flag, COC

Similar Artists COC, Metallica, Black Sabbath

Artist History In a city that has been heralded more than once as the "new" hot spot on the musical map, Voidgazer are out to do things their own way. Vocalist Montavon spent the early part of the nineties with Columbus heavyweights Unconfined, who made their mark locally and nationally in 1993-94, garnering the attention of both indie and major labels after a visit to the 1994 Foundations Music Forum in Burbank, CA. The band split up a few months after the convention and Montavon left Ohio for Arizona the following year, where he formed Tempe Hard Core band Spit-THC. He later returned to Ohio and found a like-minded musical partner in guitarist Hadley in 1999. Early lineup changes led to Drummer Roger Coffman, whose father, Roger Coffman Sr. owned the legendary Park Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, which was THE home to Heavy Metal/Hardcore music in Columbus for most of the late 80's and early 90's. Bassist Eric Heath, formerly of The Urban Grind Corps Guerillas came aboard in 2000. The band have made the obligatory rounds of the major Cowtown hot spots such as The Alrosa Villa, Little Brothers, and High Five, both as a headlining act and as an opener for such national acts as Flaw, Karma To Burn, and Caustic Resin. Their debut CD "Grain" was a showcase of riffology, dark and unique vocals, and powerful rhythm work. Produced by Montavon and Todd Martin (frontman for Ohio legends Mothman) "Grain" was merely an introduction to what these four self-proclaimed students of rock are capable of. Their current CD, "Downbeat", follows up where "Grain" left off, continuing to explore the riff-heavy territory that they mined on the first record. New material, lyrically, deals with a lot of standard heavy-metal issues from the shit-talking of rumor-mongers in a cliqueish scene, poverty-stricken border towns in Mexico, and the loss of family to violent crime. "No topic is off limits," says Montavon. "If I want to write about Greek Mythology like Iron Maiden, or about my past shitty relationships, that's what I will write. It's more honest that way." Insisting that the new record is only a collection of demos, and not really a "Sophomore Album", the band chose to present the songs mostly in their raw demo-forms, leaving sound imperfections and subtle mistakes in the mix. "We weren't going for some avant-garde 'noise is good' kind of thing," Montavon says. "It's just that with our limited financial resources we were only able to record the songs as best we could. I'm sure we could re-record any of those songs at this point and come out with a "better sounding" result, but then it wouldn't have the raw feel that our band possesses." A new CD is already being written by the band and new material is constantly incorporated into their live shows. The plan for the third CD, coming in 2004 is to record in a "real" studio and see what kind of results the hi-fi approach will deliver. Always ready to explore new-frontiers, Voidgazer have the will and the ability to stick around for the long-haul, whether that leads to Madison Square Garden, or Joe's Bar & Grill, it doesn't much matter to the fact that songs are being written and performed, and music is moving in the bloodstream of this Central Ohio powerhouse group.

Group Members Roger Coffman-drums John Hadley-guitars Eric Heath-bass Kevin Montavon-vocals

Instruments Gibson Les Paul guitars; Fender Precision basses; Remo drums; Marshall and Ampeg amplification; Tascam Recording Equipment

Albums Grain, Downbeat

Press Reviews Coming Soon

Location Columbus, Ohio - USA

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